US tennis team appear disinterested at Olympic press conference

ANDY Roddick kept his baseball cap pulled down so low you couldn't see his face, barely deigning to show it as a hundred or so reporters lobbed up some easy questions.

Then someone asked where the star-studded US tennis team was staying in London.

"What? You want the actual address," he snapped.

Serena Williams is attempting to become the first in history to win all four grand slams, and Olympic gold in singles and doubles, but she could barely fake her interest.

She only needs an Olympic singles title to complete the tennis "six pack".

Her sister Venus has already won three Olympic gold medals - she is the most decorated US tennis player in history - but on her first day at the London Olympics seemed more content to talk about the red, white and blue beads in her hair and the colour of her fingernails.

Maybe it shouldn't surprise that some of the best players on the planet appeared entirely underwhelmed when they fronted a huge throng of reporters and cameras for the first and only time before the tennis events start on the hallowed turf of Wimbledon.

When your entire life is a rockstar whirlwind of grand slams and rich tournaments and rolling about in tens of millions of dollars, the old celebration of humanity probably feels a little bit ho-hum.

But even baby-faced 20-year-old Ryan Harrison was totally non-plussed, sitting there with his head in his hands.It's his first Olympics.

"No, I actually didn't even know that, so no pressure," Serena said when told about her shot at history.

"For me it's, like, a great chance to represent Team USA and whether it's a gold medal or not, it's just the participation that's important for me."

Then Venus said this: "I think that just qualifying for the Olympics is an honour for all of us, and we can feel that spirit of representing our country.

"This is an event that brings the world together, despite any differences that we all have."

World peace and all that.

Despite the fact the tennis events will be played on the hallowed turf at Wimbledon, with players resplendent in the vivid colours of their country instead of traditional whites, the inescapable fact is that the Olympics is not the pinnacle of the sport.

That's Wimbledon - and Serena won that weeks ago.

Just as some might question how much a gold medal means to the Dream Team in the context of an NBA championship ring or a shoe endorsement, the same can be asked of professional tennis players who live in this rarefied air all of the time.

"Growing up as tennis players, we always dreamed of winning grand slams, and doing well in tennis, like Wimbldeon," Venus said, unconvincingly.

"Of every tournament I've won, I've enjoyed my gold medals the most."

At least they are here.

Earlier this week, Venus strode along with the Olympic flame with her mother Oracene only metres behind, proudly snapping away at the moment for the family album.

More than that, the US team is at full strength.

Both the Williams sisters and Roddick are genuine gold-medal prospects in the singles draw. Towering John Isner, Harrison and Donald Young are also playing singles, and brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, ranked No. 2 among ATP World Tour teams, are tough to beat in the doubles.

Apart from the Serena and Venus defending their doubles title won in Beijing, the combination of Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond is an imposing won.

Many predict both pairings could win medals.

"We can come away with gold in every category," says captain, former player Mary Joe Fernandez. "It's exciting."